Tubing flow control valve



Feb. 8, 1966 W. D. MYERS TUBING FLOW CONTROL VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 25, 1963 INVENTOR. WLL/AVM D0 MYERS BY WWW flrroe/vEys.

Feb. 8, 1966 w. D. MYERS 3,233,677

TUBING FLOW CONTROL VALVE Feb. 8, 1966 w. D. MYERS TUBING FLOW CONTROLVALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 16. 4.

Filed May 23, 1963 INVENTOR. m1. IFM/I D. M YEQS 3,233,677 Patented Feb.8, 1966 3,233,677 TUBING FLOW CONTROL VALVE William D. Myers, Houston,Tex., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.., acorporation of California Filed May 23, 1963, Ser. No. 282,651 12Claims. (Cl. 166226) The present invention relates to subsurface wellbore apparatus, and more particularly to valve apparatus to control flowof fluid in a tubular string disposed in a well bore.

An object of the invention is to provide valve apparatus adapted to beembodied in a tubular string disposed in a well bore and capable ofbeing releasably retained in an open, as well as in a closed, condition,shifting of the valve apparatus between open and closed conditions beingobtainable repeatedly with the valve apparatus remaining in the wellbore.

Another object of the invention is to provide valve apparatus adapted tobe embodied in a tubular string disposed in a well bore and which iscapable of preventing flow back of fluid through the tubular stringafter a zone in the well bore has been subject to a stimulationtreatment and while moving the apparatus to another zone in the wellbore.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved valve apparatusadapted for incorporation in a tubular string to be disposed in a wellbore and capable of functioning as a tester valve for a well bore form-mtion or zone.

An additional object of the invention is to provide valve apparatusadapted for incorporation in a tubular string to be disposed in a wellbore, the valve apparatus being readily and rapidly shiftable to openposition in the performance of a formation zone stimulation treatment inthe well bore. Shifting to open position can be accomplished repeatedlyand quickly to allow the performance of plural zone stimulationoperations, provided that the tubular string is swabbed betweentreatments.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of severalforms in which it.

may be embodied. Such forms are shown in the drawings accompanying andforming part of the present specification. These forms will now bedescribed in detail for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURES 1 and 1a together constitute a longitudinal section throughvalve apparatus disposed in a well casing, with the valve in openposition, FIG. 1a being a lower continuation of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2 and 2a are views corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 1a with the valvein closed position, FIG. 2a being a lower continuation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal section of a latch portionof the apparatus in the position disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5--5 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken along the line 6-6 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, with the parts in another relativeposition;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section illustrating a modified form of thelower portion of the inner mandrel of the valve apparatus shown in FIGS.1 to 7, inclusive.

A valve apparatus A is disclosed in the drawings and is adapted to besecured to and actually form part of a tubular string B disposed in awell casing C, the tubular string extending downwardly from the top ofthe well bore. The apparatus may be secured to a suitable packer D to beanchored in packed-off condition in the well bore above a formationzone, such as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,802,534. The valve apparatusis capable of being manipulated in eliecting a test of a formation zonebelow the packer, as, for example, when the valve A is run in the wellbore in a closed condition and then opened after setting of the packertherein, or the valve can be manipulated to stimulate the formationzone. Stimulation can occur repeatedly, if desired, without removing theapparatus from the well bore.

The valve apparatus A includes an inner mandrel or tubular member 10having an upper threaded pin 11 for tlhreaded attachment to an adjacentcoupling 12 or section of the tubing string B that extends to the top ofthe well bore. This inn-er tubular member is piloted within an outertubular member or housing 13. Such housing consists of a plurality ofsections threadedly secured together. As shown, a lower section or sub14 is threaded to an intervening coupling 15, which is, in turn,threaded to the lower end of an upper section 16 threadedly secured toan upper sub or head 17. The coupling 15 provides a cylindrical valveseat 18, the inside diameter 19 of the lower section 14 beingsubstantially greater than the diameter of the valve seat to permit flowof fluid around the lower portion 20 of the mandrel when the latter isshifted downwardly in the housing to place a plurality of mandrel sideports 21 below the coupling 15 and within the enlarged diameter housingspace 19.

The mandrel carries upper and lower seal rings 22, 23 adapted to effecta sealing fit with the cylindrical valve seat 18 to prevent upwardpassage of fluid from the lower housing section 14 through the ports 21to the interior of the mandrel. The lower section 20 of the mandrel isseparate from the main upper portion thereof, being threadedly securedto the latter, and also serving to retain the lower seal 23 in positionon the mandrel. This lower section may have a lower valve seat 24thereon adapted to be engaged by a flapper valve (head 25 suitablysecured to an arm 26 pivotally mounted on a hinge pin 27 secured to thelower portion 20 of the mandrel member 10. The flapper valve 25 isadapted to swing downwardly to a position fully opening the passage 28through the mandrel and is shiftable upwardly into engagement with itsseat 24 to close such central passage against upward flow of fluidthereinto through its lower end. Leakage of fluid between the valve head25 and its companion seat 24 may be prevented by a suitable seal ring orgasket 29 on the valve head adapted to engage the valve seat.

The mandrel It) is adapted to be releasably retained in its upperposition within the outer housing 13 to close its side ports 21 (FIGS.2, 2a), or it can be releasably retained in a lower position within thehousing in which the side ports 21 are disposed below the cylindricalvalve seat 18, which is the open condition (FIGS. 1, la). As shown, alatch sleeve 30 is mounted in an annular space 31 between the mandrel 10and outer housing or body 13, the upper portion 32 of the latch sleevebeing circumferentially continuous and its lower portion having aplurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 33 openingthrough the lower end of the sleeve and providing spring-like latch arms34 having intermediate externally threaded head portions 35 and lowerlatch finger portions 36. The threaded heads 35 engage a companioninternal thread 37 in the body or housing 13,. the threads being of abuttress type to permit upward ratcheting of the threads on the heads 35along the internal threads 37, but preventing downward ratcheting of thethreaded heads along the body thread.

When the latch sleeve 30 is in its uppermost position within the housing13, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer portions 38 of the latch fingersengage a restricted portion 39 in the body 13 to hold the inner portion4-0 of the latch fingers under a downwardly facing shoulder 41 of themandrel 14) to prevent downward movement of the mandrel within thehousing 13 from its uppermost position. When in this uppermost position,an upper shoulder 42 on the mandrel is disposed immediately below aninner downwardly directed shoulder 43 on the circumferentiallycontinuous portion 32 of the latch sleeve, the latch sleeve, as statedabove, then being in its upper position within the housing 13.

When the latch sleeve 3% is rotated to the right with respect to thehousing or body 13, it will move downwardly therealong to shift itsfingers 36 downwardly out of the restricted body portion 39 and into anenlarged internal diameter portion 44 of the housing, whereupon thefingers 36 can shift outwardly so that their inner portions 40 areremoved from holding relation to the lower mandrel stop shoulder 41, themandrel 10 then being free to be shifted downwardly within the housing13 to dispose its ported valve head 25 in a downward position and itsports 21 below the cylindrical valve seat 18, which is the opencondition illustrated in FIGS. 1, la. Rotation of the latch sleeve 3% isobtained by rotating the tubular string B and the mandrel 11 attachedthereto, the rotary motion of the mandrel being transmitted from aplurality of longitudinal keys 50 suitably secured to the mandrel anddisposed in the slots 33 between the latch arms 34. After the latchsleeve 30 has been rotated sufiiciently to lower its holding fingers 36from engagement with the restricted portion 39 of the body, and themandrel 10 has been shifted downwardly, as permitted by downward slidingof the keys 50 within the latch sleeve slots 33, the upper ends 51 ofthe keys are disposed within a counterbore 52 of the connector section15 of the outer body 13, such upper ends of the keys being located atthe lower portion of the fingers 36. It is to be noted that the lowerend of the fingers have recesses 53 (FIG. formed in their leadingportions (as regards right-hand rotation of the fingers), providinglongitudinal stop surfaces 54 in the lower finger terminal portions 5'5engageable by the trailing sides 56 of the keys to dispose the upperends 51 of the keys below the downwardly facing surfaces 57 of thefingers defining the recesses 53. Accordingly, after downward shiftingof the mandrel 19 within the housing 13 to move the ports 21 to openposition, which will place the upper portions 51 of the keys inalignment with the recesses 53, the turning of the tubular string B andmandrel 14B slightly to the left will shift the keys out of the alignedslots 33 and into the recesses 53, the upper ends 51 of the keys thenbeing in position to engage the lower ends 57 of the fingers, which willlock or releasably retain the mandrel in its lower position, since themandrel cannot then shift upwardly within the housing 13. Upwardshifting is prevented by engagement of the keys 50 with the fingershoulders 57, and by virtue of the fact that the latch sleeve 30 isthreaded to the body or housing 13 of the valve apparatus. The threadedheads 35 of the latch arms 34 cannot shift inwardly at this time, sincean enlarged diameter portion 69 of the mandrel 1 3 is disposed behindthe heads, as is evident from PEG. 1.

In the event it is desired to reclose the ports 21, the tubular string Band mandrel 10 are turned to the right, the housing 13 being preventedfrom shifting to the right by virtue of the holding action of the wellpacker D, which is set in the well casing C. The keys will turn untiltheir leading faces 61 engage the trailing surfaces st: of the lowerfinger extensions 55, which will positively locate the keys in alignmentwith the longitudinal slots 33 between latch arms 34.

The tubular string B and mandrel 10 can then be elevated, which willshift the mandred upwardly within the housing 13 and the latch sleeve 30until the mandrel shoulder 42 engages the latch sleeve shoulder 43. Atthis time, a reduced diameter or relieved portion 63 of the mandrel isdisposed opposite the threaded heads 35. Accordingly, a continuation ofan upward pull on the tubular string B and mandrel 10 will carry thelatch sleeve 30 upwardly with them, the threaded heads 35 on the lacharms ratcheting upwardly along the threads 37 of the-housing 13, aspermitted by the ability of the threaded heads 35 to spring inwardly anddisengage their ratchet threads or teeth from the body threads 37. Suchupward shifting of the latch sleeve 30 relocates the latch fingers 36within the restricted diameter portion 39 of the body 13 and under theshoulder 41 of the mandrel 1%, the valve then being relocked in itsclosed position, 'such as disclosed in FIGS. 2, 2a.

Since the operation of the lower wellpackerD usually requires thetransmission of torque from the tubular string B and mandrel 1% to thehousing 13, a one-way ratchet or releasable coupling is provided betweenthe latch sleeve 30 and the body 13 of the tool. The body of the toolhas a longitudinal arm '70 formed therein, which has a pawl or ratchettooth 71 secured thereto adapted to be received within one of aplurality of longitudinal grooves 72 in the exterior of the latchsleeve. One edge 73 of the pawl is beveled or tapered, which will permitthe latch sleeve 30 to rotate in a clockwise direction, the trailingsides 74 of the grooves engaging the pawl 71 and shifting it outwardlyof the sleeve 30 (FIG. 7). Thus, rotary motion of the inner mandrel 1tand :sleeve 38 with respect to the body 13 can occur in effectingdownward threading of the latch sleeve along thebody of the tool, asdescribed hereinabove. Sufiicient torque is required to cam the pawl 71out of one of the grooves 72 as to allow adequate turning effort of themandrel and latch sleeve to be transmitted to the housing 13 for thepurpose of manipulating the lower well packer D, as, for example, inreleasing its lock portion to permit its setting.

The valve device A can be attached to the lower well packer D anddisposed initially in either its open or its closed condition, dependingupon the operation to be performed in the well bore. As assurance thatthe valve device will be held initially in its open position, a shearscrew (FIG. 1) can, if desired, initially interconnect the upper head orsub 17 of the housing 13 and the mandrel 10. Assuming the lower packer Dto be set, a turning of the tubular string B and the mandrel 10 to theright will shear the screw 80 and will then allow the mandrel 10 to beelevated to shift its ported head 45 within the cylindrical seat 18 orto a valve closing position (FIGS. 2, 2a).

If the valve apparatus is to be employed for testing a formation, it canbe initially placed in the closed condition illustrated in FIGS. 2, 2aand lowered on the tubular string B, being connected to the lowerset-down type of packer D, until the setting point of the latter hasbeen reached. Inasmuch as the valve A is initially in its closedposition, the tubing string B will be dry. The imposition of sufficienttorque on the tubular string B and mandrel It) will cause such torque tobe transmitted through the sleeve 30 and clutch 70-74 to the outerhousing 13 and to the packer D for the purpose of releasing the latter,whereupon sufiicient downweight can be imposed through the tubularstring B and the valve apparatus A to set the packer D in the wellcasing C. The rotation of the tubular string and mandrel 10 will nowcause such rotation to be transimitted through the keys 5% to the sleeve30, threading the latter downwardly along the body 13 of the tool untilthe fingers 36 are disposed in the enlarged diameter portion 44 of thehousing, the fingers thus being released from the stop shoulder 41,allowing the mandrel to be moved quickly downwardly to its full openposition, such as disclosed in FIGS. 1, 1a, (the shear screw 86 havingbeen omitted), a test being performed on the formation by allowing anyformation fluid to flow through the Well packer D upwardly into thelower housing section 14 and through the open ports 21 into the tubularmandrel 10 and the tubing string B. Although the fingers 36 willnormally shift out of the way of the mandrel shoulder 41 as a result ofdownward threading of the sleeve 30 within the housing 13 to a mandrelreleasing position as assurance that such outward shifting will occur,the lower ends 9! of the fingers as can be tapered in an upward andinward direction, engaging a companion externally tapered end 91 on theconnector or coupling sleeve 15, which will positively cam the fingersoutwardly into the enlarged diameter portion 44 of the housing free fromengagement with the mandrel stop shoulder 41.

The valve A can be locked in the open position by turning the tubularstring 13 and the mandrel 10 to the left to locate the upper portion 51of the keys in the finger recesses 53 and under the lower shoulder 57 ofthe fingers. In the event the valve is to be shifted to a closedposition, the tubular string and mandrel need merely be turned to theright a slight distance to remove the keys 50 from the recesses 53, theleading faces 61 of the keys engaging the trailing faces 62 of thefingers 36, aligning the keys with the slots 33; whereupon upwardmovement of the tubular string B and mandrel 10 will shift the mandrelupwardly within the housing 13, the mandrel shoulder 42 engaging thesleeve shoulder 43 and moving the sleeve 30 upwardly with it within thehousing 13, the threaded heads 35 ratcheting upwardly past the bodythreads 37 until the sleeve has been shifted to its initial position inwhich its fingers 36 are again cammed inwardly, with the inner portions40 of the fingers disposed under the mandrel shoulder 41 (FIGS. 2, 2a).

The running-in of the tubing string B in a dry state with the valve Aclosed, and its quick opening, not only can be used in performing a drytest on the formation, but can also effect a stimulation of a producingzone. Following shifting of the valve A to an open condition and itsreclosing, the tubing string B can be swabbed to remove the iiuidthereform that entered through the open valve, again placing the tubingstring in a substantially dry state, whereupon the valve A can again bemanipulated and shifted to the open condition to effect anotherstimulation of the producing zone. Such stimulation treatments can occurrepeatedly merely by opening and closing the valve device, followed byremoval of the liquid in the tubing string by a swabbing or similaroperation. Multiple stimulations can be effected with only one trip ofthe apparatus A, D in the well bore, since the valve is readily shiftedrepeatedly between closed and open conditions without the necessity forremoving the apparatus from the well bore.

With the valve A in the closed position, it is latched or locked in thatcondition to permit release of the packer D, or other apparatus,therebelow and shifting of the entire combination of equipment toanother location in the well bore while fluid is prevented from enteringthe tubing B. The valve can also be locked in its open position toinsure equalizing of pressure across the flapper valve member 25 in theevent opening of such flapper valve member is desired, as, for example,in connection with running other tools through the tubular string B, thevalve apparatus A, and the well packer D to a position therebelow. Thedifliculty of opening the flapper valve head 25 against pressure isthereby avoided, which not only facilitates movement of other equipmentthrough the apparatus, but prevents the flapper valve head seal 29 frombeing subject to pressure difierentials that might blow it off the head25.

In the event it is not desired to move any equipment through theapparatus, the flapper valve 25 need not be used. Instead, the lower endof the mandrel 10 can be closed by a cap threaded on the main portion ofthe mandrel and also serving to hold the lower mandrel seal 23 in place,such as disclosed in FIG. 8.

I claim:

1. In a valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: an outermember; an inner member within said outer member; said members having a.passage therethrough through which fluid can flow from one member intothe other member when said passage is open, said members being movablelongitudinally with respect to each other; coengageable means on saidmembers adapted to occupy a first relative position opening said passagein response to relative longitudinal movement between said members inone direction and adapted to occupy a second relative position closingsaid passage in response to relative longitudinal movement between saidmembers in the opposite direction; holding means on said members forreleasably preventing substantial longitudinal movement between saidmembers to retain said coengageable means in one of said relativepositions and releasable in response to relative rotation between saidmembers to enable said members to move relatively in one of saiddirections to place said coengageable means in another of said relativepositions, said holding means being constructed and arranged to permitsaid members to move relatively longitudinally in the other of saiddirections without relative rotation between said members to place saidcoengageable means in said one of said relative positions; andreleasable lock means for releasably preventing relative movementbetween said members in said other of said directions to retain saidcoengageable means in said another of said relative positions.

2. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: an outermember; an inner member within said outer member; said members having apassage therethrough through which fluid can flow from one member intothe other member when said passage is open, said members being movablelongitudinally with respect to each other; coengageable means on saidmembers adapted to occupy a first relative position opening said passagein response to relative longitudinal movement between said members inone direction and adapted to occupy a second relative position closingsaid passage in response to relative longitudinal movement between saidmembers in the opposite direction; holding means on said members forreleasably preventing substantial longitudinal movement between saidmembers to retain said coengageable means in said second relativeposition and releasable in response to relative rotation between saidmembers to enable said members to move longitudinally relative to eachother to place said coengageable means in said first. relative position,said holding means being constructed and arranged to permit said membersto move relatively longitudinally without relative rotation between saidmembers to place said coengageable means in said second relativeposition; and releasable lock means for releasably preventing relativemovement between said members in said opposite direction to retain saidcoengageable means in said first relative position.

3. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: an outermember; an inner member within said outer member; said members having apassage therethrough through which fluid can flow from one member intothe other member when said passage is open, said members being movablelongitudinally with respect to each other; coengageable means on saidmembers adapted to occupy a first relative position opening said passagein response to relative longitudinal movement between said members inone direction and adapted to occupy a second relative position closingsaid passage in response to relative longitudinal movement between saidmembers in the opposite direction; holding means on said members forreleasably preventing substantial longitudinal movement between saidmembers to retain said coengageable means in one of said relativepositions and releasable in response to relative rotation between saidmembers to enable said members to move relatively in one of saiddirections to place said coengageable means in another of said relativeposi tions, said holding means being constructed and arranged to permitsaid members to move relatively longitudinally in the other of saiddirections without relative rotation between said members to place saidcoengageable means in said one of said relative positions; releasablelock means for releasably preventing relative movement between saidmembers in said other of said directions to retain said coen- :gageablemeans in said another of said relative positions; and releasable andreengageable means releasably connecting said holding means to one ofsaid members to :resist relative rotation therebetween.

4. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a passage therethrough through which fluid can flow from onemember into the other member when said passage is open, said innermember being within said outer member; coengageable means on saidmembers adapted to occupy one relative position opening said passage inresponse to relative longitudinal movement between said members in onedirection and adapted to occupy another relative position closing saidpassage in response to relative longitudinal movement between saidmembers in the opposite direc tion; holding means on said members forpreventing substantial longitudinal movement between said members, saidholding means including threaded instrumentalities responsive torelative rotation between said members to shift a portion of saidholding means along another portion of said holding means to a positionpermitting said members to move relatively in one of said longitudinaldirections and shift said coengageable means from one of said positionsto the other of said positions, said threaded instrumentalities beingconstructed and arranged to permit said members to move relatively andwithout rotation in the other of said longitudinal directions to shiftsaid coengageable means back to said one of said positions; andreleasable and reengageable lock means for preventing relativelongitudinal movement of said members in said other direction to retainsaid coengageable means in said other of said positions.

5. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a passage therethrough through which fluid can flow from onemember into the other member when said passage is open, said innermember being within said outer member; coengageable means on saidmembers adapted to occupy one relative position opening said passage inresponse to relative longitudinal movement between said members in onedirection and adapted to occupy another relative position closing saidpassage in response to relative longitudinal movement between saidmembers in the opposite direction; holding means on said members forpreventing sub- :stantial longitudinal movement between said members,said holding means including threaded instrumentalities responsive torelative rotation between said members to shift a portion of saidholding means along another portion of said holding means to a positionpermitting said members to move relatively in one of said longitudinaldirections and shift said coengageable means from closed position toopen position, said threaded instrumentalities being constructed andarranged to permit said members to move relatively and without rotationin the other of said longitudinal directions to shift said coengageablemeans back to closed position; and releasable and recngageable lockmeans preventing relative longitudinal movement between said members insaid other direction to retain said coengageable means in said openposition.

6. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a passage therethrough through which fluid can flow from onemember into the other member when said passage is open, said innermember being within said outer member; coengageable means on saidmembers adapted to occupy one relative position opening said passage inresponse to relative longitudinal movement between said members in onedirection and adapted to occupy another relative position closing saidpassage in response to relative longitudinal movement between saidmembers in the opposite direction; releasable latch means threadedlyattached to one of said members in a first location and engageable withsaid other member to prevent substantial longitudinal movement betweensaid members to retain said coengageable means in one of said positions;means for rotating said latch means relative to said one of said membersto thread said latch means along said one member to a second locationdisengaged from said other member permitting said members to moverelatively in one of said directions and shift said coeugageable meansto the other of said positions; means responsive to relativelongitudinal movement between said members in the other or" saiddirections for returning said coengageable means to said one positionand said latch means to said first location; and releasable andreengageable means preventing relative longitudinal movement betweensaid members in said other of said directions to retain saidcoengageable means in said other of said positions.

7. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a passage therethrough through which fluid can fiow from onemember into the other member when said passage is open, said innermember being within said outer member; coengageable means on saidmembers adapted to occupy one relative position opening said passage inresponse to relative longitudinal movement between said members in onedirection and adapted to occupy another relative position closing saidpassage in response to relative longitudinal movement between saidmembers in the opposite direction; releasable latch means threadedlyattached to one of said members in a first location and engageable withsaid other member to prevent substantial longitudinal movement betweensaid members to retain said coengageable means in one of said positions;means on the other of said members for rotating said latch meansrelative to said one of said members to thread said latch means alongsaid one member to a second location disengaged from said other memberpermitting said members to move relatively in one of said directions andshift said coengageable means to the other of said positions; meansresponsive to relative longitudinal movement between said members in theother of said directions for returning said coengageable means to saidone position and said latch means to said first location; said rotatingmeans being shiftable into locking relation to said latch meanspreventing relative longitudinal movement between said members in saidother of said directions to retain said coengageable means in said otherof said positions.

8. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a passage therethrough through which fluid can flow from onemember into the other member when said passage is open, said innermember being within said outer member; coengageable means on saidmembers adapted to occupy one relative position opening said passage inresponse to relative longitudinal movement between said members in onedirection and adapted to occupy another relative position closing saidpassage in response to relative longitudinal movement between saidmembers in the opposite direction; latch means having an expansible andcontractable threaded portion threadedly attached to one of said membersin a first location and engageable with said other aasaevv member toprevent substantial longitudinal movement between said members andretain said coengageable means in closed position; means on said othermember for rotating said latch means relative to said one member andthread said latch means along said one member to a second locationdisengaged from said other member permitting said members to moverelatively in one of said directions and shift said coengageable meansto open position; means on said other member engageable with said latchmeans to return said latch means without rotation to said first locationduring relative movement of said members in the other of said directionsto return said coengageable means to a closed position; and releasableand reengageable means preventing relative longitudinal movement between said members in the other of said directions to retain saidcoengageable means in said open position.

9. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a passage therethrough, said inner member being within said outermember; coengageable means on said members adapted to occupy onerelative position opening said passage in response to relativelongitudinal movement between said members in one direction and adaptedto occupy another relative position closing said passage in response torelative longitudinal movement between said members in the oppositedirection; releasable latch means threadedly attached to said outermember in a first location and engageable with said inner member toprevent substantial longitudinal movement between said members to retainsaid coengageable means in one of said positions; means for rotatingsaid latch means relative to said outer member to thread said latchmeans along said outer member and to a second location permitting saidmembers to move relatively in one of said directions and shift saidcoengageable means to the other of said positions; means responsive torelative longitudinal movement between said members in the other of saiddirections for returning said coengageable means to said one positionand said latch means to said first location; and releasable andreengageable means preventing relative longitudinal movement betweensaid members in said other of said directions to retain saidcoengageable means in said other of said positions.

10. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a passage therethrough, said inner member being within said outermember; coengageable means on said members adapted to occupy onerelative position opening said passage in response to relativelongitudinal movement between said members in one direction and adaptedto occupy another relative position closing said passage in response torelative longitudinal movement between said members in the oppositedirection; releasable latch means threadedly attached to said outermember in a first location and engageable with said inner member toprevent substantial longitudinal movement between said members to retainsaid coengageable means in one of said positions; means for rotatingsaid latch means relative to said outer member to thread said latchmeans along said outer member and to a second location permitting saidmembers to move relatively in one of said directions and shift saidcoengageable means to the other of said positions; means responsive torelative longitudinal movement between said members in the other of saiddirections for returning said coengageable means to said one positionand said latch means to said first location; releasable and reengageablemeans preventing relative longitudinal movement between said members insaid other of said directions to retain said coengageable means in saidother of said positions; and releasable and reengageable meansreleasably connecting said latch means to said outer member to resistrelative rotation therebetwcen.

11. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a. passage therethrough, said inner member being within saidouter member; coengageable means on said members adapted to occupy onerelative position opening said passage in response to relativelongitudinal movement between said members in one direction and adaptedto occupy another relative position closing said passage in response torelative longitudinal movement between said members in the oppositedirection; latch means having an expansible and contractable threadedportion threadedly attached to said outer member in a first location andengageable with said inner member to prevent substantial longitudinalmovement between said members and retain said coengageable means inclosed position; means on said inner member for rotating said latchmeans relative to said outer member and thread said latch means alongsaid outer member to a second location permitting said members to moverelatively in one of said directions and shift said coengageable meansto open position; means on said inner member engageable with said latchmeans to return said latch means Without rotation to said first locationduring relative movement of said members in the other of said directionsto return said coengageable means to closed position; said means forrotating said latch means being shiftable into locking relation to saidlatch means to hold said coengageable means in open position.

12. In valve apparatus adapted to be disposed in a well bore: inner andouter members movable longitudinally with respect to each other andhaving a passage therethrough, said inner member being within said outermember; coengageable means on said members adapted to occupy onerelative position opening said passage in response to relativelongitudinal movement between said members in one direction and adaptedto occupy another relative position closing said passage in response torelative longitudinal movement between said members in the oppositedirection; latch means having an expansible and contractable threadedportion threadedly attached to said outer member in a first location andengageable with said inner member to prevent substantial longitudinalmovement between said members and retain said coengageable means inclosed position; means on said inner member for rotating said latchmeans relative to said outer member and thread said latch means alongsaid outer member to a second location permitting said members to moverelatively in one of said directions and shift said coengageable meansto open position; means on said inner member engageable with said latchmeans to return said latch means without rotation to said first locationduring relative movement of said members in the other of said directionsto return said coengageable means to closed position; said means forrotating said latch means being shiftable into locking relation to saidlatch means to hold said coengageable means in open position; and aone-way releasable coupling on said latch means and outer memberresisting relative rotation therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,121,268 6/1938Shaffer 251-346 2,675,875 4/1954 Potts 166-226 2,799,345 7/1957 Baker166-133 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A VALVE APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN A WELL BORE: AN OUTERMEMBER; AN INNER MEMBER WITHIN SAID OUTER MEMBER; SAID MEMBERS HAVING APASSAGE THERETHROUGH THROUGH WHICH FLUID CAN FLOW FROM ONE MEMBER INTOANOTHER MEMBER WHEN SAID PASSAGE IS OPEN, SAID MEMBER BEING MOVABLELONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER; COENGAGEABLE MEANS ON SAIDMEMBERS ADAPTED TO OCCUPY A FIRST RELATIVE POSITION OPENING SAID PASSAGEIN RESPONSE TO RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS INONE DIRECTION AND ADAPTED TO OCCUPY A SECOND RELATIVE POSITION CLOSINGSAID PASSAGE IN RESPONSE TO RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAIDMEMBERS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION; HOLDING MEANS ON SAID MEMBERS FORRELEASABLY PREVENTING SUBSTANTIAL LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAIDMEMBERS TO RETAIN SAID COENGAGEABLE MEANS IN ONE OF SAID RELATIVEPOSITIONS AND RELEASABLE